VOL. XLI

No. 31

3-August-1998

QATAR

Qatar Central Bank Restricts Lending To Real Estate

The Central Bank of Qatar has issued a circular proposing thatcommercial banks limit real estate finance to 20% of the total value of the project previously the ceiling was set at 50%. The limit will apply to land sales and actualconstruction projects but will exempt government projects and individual loans which carrycash guarantees.

While one banker in the Gulf told MEES that the new directive isa sound...